She lost her tail after getting caught in a crab trap line and was given a prosthetic to use instead. She has been cared for by the Clearwater Marine Aquarium team ever since.After her tail had to be amputated, Winter figured out how to swim again by wiggling her body side to side, more like a shark. Her survival story made headlines and attracted the attention of Kevin Carroll, the vice president of lower extremity prosthetics at the Hanger Clinic, NBC affiliate WTSP reported. He worked with Dan Strzempka, the area clinic manager, to develop a prosthetic tail that Winter could use some of the time. When Winter swims with the tail on, she can work her muscles in the up-and-down motion. In doing so, she minimizes the negative impact of her usual shark-like swimming pattern, WTSP reported.A Wagging Tail Does Not Always Equal a Happy Dog. Don’t approach a strange dog just because it’s wagging it’s tail. Tail wagging isn’t always the universal sign of happiness – it can also indicate fear or insecurity. Be sure to teach your children about the basics of dog bite prevention.
Use Fruits & Veggies for Training Treats. Don’t have any dog treats on hand? Use some leftover fruits & veggies that are healthy for dogs as your training treats. Carrots and snap peas are Laika’s favorite snacks.
The aquarium plans to close Friday to allow time for the staff to grieve and speak with a grief counselor.
Plans are in the works for a formal memorial.
“The CMA team expresses our deepest gratitude to the thousands of people from around the world who sent caring messages for Winter. She truly inspired hope and was loved by millions of people worldwide,” the aquarium’s statement on Thursday reads. “Winter, we love you.”
